Writing (or "burning") DVDs requires a different approach than burning CDs. DVDs offer much higher capacities, and the standard CD writing tools will not suffice.

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Writing (or "Burning") DVDs is different from CDs. DVDs can contain much more data (I use 4.7GB single-layer discs), and the standard CD writing tools don't suffice anymore.

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This howto only covers a very simple part for now: writing data onto DVDs using the command line.

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This HOWTO covers a narrow scope for now: writing data onto DVDs using the command line.

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==Tools for the job==

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==Required packages==

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#You still need the standard CD writing tools known as '''cdrtools''' (which can be replaced by '''cdrkit''').

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# You still need the standard CD writing tools known as {{AUR|cdrtools}} (which can be replaced by {{Pkg|cdrkit}}, if desired).

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#You also need the new DVD writing tools known as '''dvd+rw-tools''', found in the '''extra''' repository.

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# You also need the new DVD writing tools known as {{Pkg|dvd+rw-tools}} found in the [[Official Repositories|official repositories]].

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'''Note 1''': Do not install the package known as '''dvdrtools'''. It conflicts with cdrtools, and dvd+rw-tools is a better DVD writing package than dvdrtools.<br>

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{{Note|Do not install the package known as {{Pkg|dvdrtools}}. It conflicts with {{AUR|cdrtools}}, and {{Pkg|dvd+rw-tools}} is the superior DVD writing package.}}

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'''Note 2''': If you wish to use a graphical frontend, install '''k3b''' and you need to read no further.<br>

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'''Note 3''': I used to use '''xcdroast''' for my CD writing needs, but I found it to have grown buggy and outdated. I also don't trust its method for writing DVDs. However, if you can reconcile my view on xcdroast, feel free.

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''Update 2006-07: I have found '''graveman''' to be an excellent replacement for xcdroast, so you can also use that instead.''

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{{Note|1={{AUR|cdrtools}} provides all the functionality of {{Pkg|dvd+rw-tools}}, as growisofs depends on mkisofs. Also the development of dvd+rw-tools seems to be stalled for the past 5 years (the last release was in [http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/linux/DVD+RW/tools/?M=D 2008])}}

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==Getting the job done==

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{{Tip|If you wish to use a graphical front-end, install {{Pkg|k3b}} or {{Pkg|brasero}}, and you need to read no further.}}

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Your new friend to burning DVDs will be the command ''''growisofs'''' from the DVD+RW-tools package. If you've ever written CDs from the command line before, you'll know the process of first creating an iso9660 file ('''mkisofs'''), and then burning it to CD ('''cdrecord'''). growisofs merges these steps for you, so you don't need extra storage space for the ISO file anymore. Another advantage is that multisession[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:Multisession ?] writing has been simplified. I won't explain how it ''used'' to be done, but I will explain how it works with growisofs.

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===basics===

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==Procedure==

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In basics, writing a '''new''' DVD goes like this:

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This HOWTO will use the command {{ic|growisofs}} from the {{Pkg|dvd+rw-tools}} package. If you have ever written CDs from the command line before, you will know the process of first creating an iso9660 file ({{ic|mkisofs}}), and then burning it to CD ({{ic|cdrecord}}). {{ic|growisofs}} merges these steps, so you do not need extra storage space for the ISO file anymore. Another advantage is that multisession writing has been simplified.

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growisofs -Z ''/dev/cdrw'' -r -J /path/to/files

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Where /dev/cdrw is your DVD writer device.

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To '''continue''' a DVD (write an additional session) you use:

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===Overview===

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growisofs -M ''/dev/cdrw'' -r -J /path/to/files

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Essentially, writing a '''new''' DVD follows this procedure:

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$ growisofs -Z /dev/cdrw -r -J /path/to/files

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'''-Z''': start at the beginning of the DVD using the following device,<br>

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where {{ic|/dev/cdrw}} is your DVD writer device.

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'''-M''': start after the last session on the disc using the following device,<br>

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'''-r''': Rockridge support with sane permission settings (Recommended, extended UNIX info. Note that <tt>'''-r'''</tt> will choose a different permissions than the real ones, to use the exact permissions use <tt>'''-R'''</tt> instead, see the manual page of <tt>''mkisofs''</tt> for more information),<br>

*'''-dry-run''': Important flag: Simulate writing. Remove this flag if you are sure that everything is set up correctly.

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*'''-iso-level 3''': Basically this flag just defines how strict you want to adhere to the iso9660 standard. -iso-level 1 is very strict; while -iso-level 4 is very loose. I use level 3 because I don't want to be limited (length of filenames for example), and so far I haven't ran into problems.

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*'''-R/-J''': see above.

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*'''-speed=2''': Just to be sure, I start burning at 2x speed.

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*'''-joliet-long''': Allows longer joliet filenames. The manual advices caution, but so far I had no problems.

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The final part needs some more explanation:

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; {{ic|-Z}}: as seen above, this starts a new DVD; to continue a multisession DVD, use {{ic|-M}}

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-graft-points /Magazines/=/home/citral/books/mags/

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; {{ic|-v}}: increase verbosity level (more output)

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This specifies that I don't want the files at the root of my DVD, but in the subdirectory 'Magazines'.

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; {{ic|-l}}: breaks DOS compatibility but allows for longer filenames

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; {{ic|-dry-run}}: simulate writing (remove this flag if you are sure that everything is set up correctly)

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; {{ic|-iso-level 3}}: defines how strict you want to adhere to the iso9660 standard ({{ic|-iso-level 1}} is very strict while {{ic|-iso-level 4}} is very loose)

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; {{ic|-R}}: see above

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; {{ic|-J}}: see above

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; {{ic|1=-speed=2}}: start burning at 2X speed

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; {{ic|-joliet-long}}: allows longer Joliet file names

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From the mkisofs manual:

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The final part needs more explanation:

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<tt>

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-graft-points /files/=/path/to/files/

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:This is easiest to illustrate with a couple of examples. Let's start by assuming that a local file ../old.lis exists, and you wish to include it in the cdrom image.

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::foo/bar/=../old.lis

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:will include the file old.lis in the cdrom image at /foo/bar/old.lis, while

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::foo/bar/xxx=../old.lis

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:will include the file old.lis in the cdrom image at /foo/bar/xxx. The same sort of syntax can be used with directories as well. mkisofs will create any directories required such that the graft points exist on the cdrom image - the directories do not need to appear in one of the paths.</tt>

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''As a last note'': growisofs is basically just a frontend to mkisofs. That means that any option to mkisofs also works to growisofs. You can check the mkisofs manpage for options you want to add.

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This specifies that files will be stored in the subdirectory {{ic|/files}} rather than the DVD root. See the {{ic|mkisofs}} manual for details.

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==DVD Rewritables==

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{{Note|{{ic|growisofs}} is basically just a front-end to {{ic|mkisofs}}. That means that any option for {{ic|mkisofs}} also works with {{ic|growisofs}}. See the {{ic|mkisofs}} man page for details.}}

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The process for burning rewritables is practically the same as normal DVDs. However, keep in mind that virgin DVD+RW media needs to be initially formatted ("blanked") prior to usage. Blanking can be done using the program '''dvd+rw-format''', like this:

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==Re-writable DVDs==

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dvd+rw-format ''/dev/cdrw''

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Where /dev/cdrw is your DVD writer device.

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==Trouble Shooting==

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The process for burning re-writable discs is almost the same as for normal DVDs. However, keep in mind that virgin DVD+RW media needs to be initially formatted ("blanked") prior to usage. Blanking can be done using the program {{ic|dvd+rw-format}} like this:

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$ dvd+rw-format /dev/cdrw

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where {{ic|/dev/cdrw}} is your DVD writer device.

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==Troubleshooting==

===Permission denied===

===Permission denied===

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If you encounter the permmission denied error as show below:

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If you encounter a permissions error, make sure that you are a member of the [[Groups|group]] "optical":

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:-( unable to open64("/dev/sr0",O_RDONLY): Permission denied

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# usermod -aG optical username

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You have to put your user name into the group "optical" like this:

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$ sudo usermod -aG optical username

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after which you will have to log off and then log on again.

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Please, note that growisofs doesn't allow sudoed run.

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==Further Readings==

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{{Note|{{ic|growisofs}} will not run via [[sudo]].}}

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*[http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/linux/DVD+RW/ DVD+RW-tools site]

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*[http://www.jdrowell.com/archives/2005/03/backup_to_dvd_u.html Backup to DVD script] (404 as of 2009-05-23)

Note:cdrtoolsAUR provides all the functionality of dvd+rw-tools, as growisofs depends on mkisofs. Also the development of dvd+rw-tools seems to be stalled for the past 5 years (the last release was in 2008)

Tip: If you wish to use a graphical front-end, install k3b or brasero, and you need to read no further.

Procedure

This HOWTO will use the command growisofs from the dvd+rw-tools package. If you have ever written CDs from the command line before, you will know the process of first creating an iso9660 file (mkisofs), and then burning it to CD (cdrecord). growisofs merges these steps, so you do not need extra storage space for the ISO file anymore. Another advantage is that multisession writing has been simplified.

Overview

Essentially, writing a new DVD follows this procedure:

$ growisofs -Z /dev/cdrw -r -J /path/to/files

where /dev/cdrw is your DVD writer device.

To continue a DVD (write an additional session), you use:

$ growisofs -M /dev/cdrw -r -J /path/to/files

To burn an ISO image to disc, use:

$ growisofs -dvd-compat -Z /dev/cdrw=/path/to/iso

To create a video DVD, use the following (NOTE: rather than using /dev/srN directly, consider /dev/dvdN or even just plain /dev/dvd):

as seen above, this starts a new DVD; to continue a multisession DVD, use -M

-v

increase verbosity level (more output)

-l

breaks DOS compatibility but allows for longer filenames

-dry-run

simulate writing (remove this flag if you are sure that everything is set up correctly)

-iso-level 3

defines how strict you want to adhere to the iso9660 standard (-iso-level 1 is very strict while -iso-level 4 is very loose)

-R

see above

-J

see above

-speed=2

start burning at 2X speed

-joliet-long

allows longer Joliet file names

The final part needs more explanation:

-graft-points /files/=/path/to/files/

This specifies that files will be stored in the subdirectory /files rather than the DVD root. See the mkisofs manual for details.

Note:growisofs is basically just a front-end to mkisofs. That means that any option for mkisofs also works with growisofs. See the mkisofs man page for details.

Re-writable DVDs

The process for burning re-writable discs is almost the same as for normal DVDs. However, keep in mind that virgin DVD+RW media needs to be initially formatted ("blanked") prior to usage. Blanking can be done using the program dvd+rw-format like this:

$ dvd+rw-format /dev/cdrw

where /dev/cdrw is your DVD writer device.

Troubleshooting

Permission denied

If you encounter a permissions error, make sure that you are a member of the group "optical":